SPACE

CHANNEL: SPACE

COUNTRY: Canada

LAUNCH DATE: October 17, 1997

OWNERSHIP: CTVglobemedia took over SPACE in June 2007 as a result of the takeover of CHUM Limited.

DISTRIBUTION: SPACE is subscribed to by 6,737,812 homes in Canada.

DESCRIPTION: The Canadian specialty network aims to be the destination for all things science fiction, fantasy or escapist.

SENIOR MANAGEMENT:
President & General Manager: Ed Robinson
Director, Original Programming: Fraser Robinson
Manager, Acquisitions & Program Planning: Rachel Goldstein-Couto
Creative Director: Gord McWatters
Supervising Producer: Michelle Dudas
Director, Sales: Patrick Patterson

PROGRAMMING STRATEGY: The big highlight airing on SPACE currently is Battlestar Galactica, which just launched into its final ten episodes. The show has been a hot property for the Canadian network, which broadcasts a number of science-fiction series. Other noteworthy shows include Torchwood, Eureka and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. "We’re also airing Fringe here on SPACE, because since it airs on CTV, we’re in a situation where we can also air it," says Ed Robinson, the president and general manager of SPACE. "That’s done very well for us. The reliable staples in the schedule are all the Star Trek series. We’re hoping [the new feature film] will be a boost for us, when people start remembering what they liked about the show generally and then get back into the series specifically."

A bulk of the series airing on SPACE come from the U.S., explains Robinson. "NBC Universal is one of our most significant suppliers, since it is associated with SCI FI Channel. We like our relationship with them." There are also British series, along with Canadian acquisitions, which are "always an important element for the channel."

Though SPACE is open to acquiring any shows that fit the genre, it’s also focused on originals. "Right now a priority for us is original Canadian programs. We have a couple of shows coming our way that we’re looking forward to. One of them is called Defying Gravity, which is an international co-production being shot in Vancouver. It follows a group of astronauts who are on a mission to Mars. It’s about the relationships with the astronauts in space and back to ground-control. That just started production. There’s another Canadian series, Sanctuary, which is just completing its first season and has turned into a second season."

The Circuit is SPACE’s own weekly half-hour magazine series about all things sci fi. "It covers what’s happening in gaming, what’s happing in new technology, gadgets that might amuse our sci-fi fans, even to the extent of talking about comic-book releases or collections." The Circuit has extensions as well, with some one-hour and half-hour specials. Robinson explains, "We’re calling it Fandom Forum. It’s for fans of specific shows and events. For instance, with the return of Battlestar Galactica and the final ten episodes, in advance of the debut of that first episode we did a one-hour special with either experts in the field of Battlestar or rabid fans. It was a whole discussion about where do you think the series is going to go, how do you think it’s going to end—all the questions that people talk about in their own circles regarding the show. That type of concentrated forum, we’re doing those as events present themselves."

SPACE stacks its grid with stripped programming Monday through Friday. This includes the Star Trek series and Stargate Atlantis, another Canadian show that regularly airs on SPACE. Back episodes of Lost also came to the network this year. Previous seasons have been airing throughout the weekdays as a catch-up leading into the new season. The weekends feature more singular programs, including movies, which are strong performers in the schedule.

"Our channel goes out to five different time zones across the country," says Robinson, "but we have one signal. What airs in Toronto at 9 p.m. is 6 p.m. in Vancouver, so it’s a bit tricky depending on where you are in the country as to what your schedule is like. We’re aware of that as we’re trying to establish the schedule. But Monday through Friday is largely our strip programming and prime programs, the weekends tend to be more one-offs."

SPACE has just embarked on expanding its brand to additional platforms. "We have a website that has some online streaming for when we have the rights, so that’s always popular for us. We have a small amount of VOD with one of our carriers, Rogers. It’s more of a trial than anything that’s specific though…. We’re giving it a try to see how it’s going to go."

WHAT’S NEW: Though Battlestar right now is the channel’s key highlight, there is an additional range of notable series heading to the schedule in the coming months. Destination Truth will join SPACE, along with Medium. The original Canadian series The Listener will debut this spring. Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Ghost Hunters International, Smallville and Supernatural are all returning with new episodes. More Terminator will air as the new episodes unfold.

"We’re looking to add more new series into the schedule that are Canadian," says Robinson. "We’re pretty optimistic about where all that’s going. It’s an opportunity to do some co-productions with the States."

WEBSITE: www.spacecast.com